DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

HOw i disable access to pen drive

7 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/how-i-disable-access-to-pen-drive.121424/

S
silicon_fusion Original post #1
Sep 30, 2009 at 3:44 PM
I am using win xp & i want to disable access to pen drive ,when anyone put pen drive in usb port..Is this possible.??
X
Xeno #2
Sep 30, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Yep its possible, here's how :

Open Registry Editor. (Start > Run > Regedit)

See the below screenshot
*img97.imageshack.us/img97/8712/regusb.png
If you cant see the image then,
Link to Image ( click here )

Text version :p

Navigate to:-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SY
STEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR


Locate the field "REG_DWORD" with "Start" as name.
Default value is "3", make it "4" to disable USB Mass storage devices.
Revert back to "3" to enable again.

Note:
-Any USB disk which is active while you apply this change will not stop functioning and will work like normal. Other USB disks inserted after the change will not be detected.
-Will not disable any other USB devices like mouse/ keyboard etc.

:)
asingh
asingh #3
Sep 30, 2009 at 4:57 PM
^^ Wow Xeno..something I learnt today....!

But one word of advice..since this is a registry edit, it is adviced to take a back-up of the registry before making changes.

Suggestion:
@Xeno : make a regedit file and post it here....! Should not take that long...!

:)
X
Xeno #4
Sep 30, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Done.
Learnt this cause my college had a restriction on pendrives ... :p just reversed it when i wanted to use the disks and revert it back.

Oh and to the thread starter, don't let anyone else see this :D and like asigh said, its always good to backup the files (export them as .reg files) and store it somewhere else (not on the pc you'r making the change)

However this registry edit is quite minor so it doesnt even require a restart.


:EDIT: why doesnt the forum have an option to upload zip files :-| ?
Upload link >> USB-registry keys << (check if its working or not :?)
asingh
asingh #5
Sep 30, 2009 at 6:02 PM
^^ Great Xeno.

It works..!
royal
royal #7
Oct 9, 2009 at 12:01 PM
While the registry edit option does work, it is a common and well known one...ppl having the same knowledge can easily reverse it :mrgreen:

best bet is to go for softwares